harden up
C1Informal, often colloquial and direct; can be perceived as brusque or unsympathetic.
Definition
Meaning
To become physically or mentally tougher; to make something harder or more resilient.
Used as an imperative to tell someone to stop being weak, emotional, or sensitive, and to become more robust in facing challenges.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a phrasal verb. The imperative use is highly idiomatic and carries a strong interpersonal charge, often implying criticism of perceived softness. The literal meaning relates to physical processes (e.g., materials hardening).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use it similarly. The imperative 'harden up' is strongly associated with Australian and New Zealand informal speech, often as 'harden up, mate' or the noun 'hardening up'. In the US, similar sentiment is often expressed with 'toughen up'.
Connotations
In UK/AU/NZ, it can carry a cultural connotation of stoicism or 'not complaining'. In all varieties, the imperative can be seen as dismissive of emotional distress.
Frequency
Higher frequency in informal Australian and New Zealand English. In American English, 'toughen up' is significantly more common for the imperative meaning.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Imperative] Harden up![Intransitive] He hardened up after basic training.[Transitive] The coach hardened the team up with intense drills.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Harden up, princess! (AU/NZ inf., derogatory)”
- “It's time for a bit of hardening up.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might be used metaphorically in high-pressure environments: 'The market is brutal; you need to harden up if you want to survive in sales.'
Academic
Very rare except in material sciences describing literal processes: 'The polymer will harden up upon cooling.'
Everyday
Common in informal advice or criticism regarding emotional or physical toughness: 'Harden up, it's only a minor setback.'
Technical
Used in materials science, construction, or cooking: 'The epoxy resin takes four hours to harden up completely.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- You need to harden up a bit if you're going to play rugby.
- The cement should harden up by tomorrow morning.
American English
- He told his brother to harden up and face the consequences.
- The frosting will harden up in the fridge.
adverb
British English
- N/A
- N/A
American English
- N/A
- N/A
adjective
British English
- He had a hardened-up attitude after years in the military.
- N/A
American English
- N/A
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The clay will harden up in the sun.
- It was cold, but he hardened up and went for a run.
- After a few setbacks, she hardened up and became a more determined leader.
- You can't cry over every criticism; sometimes you just have to harden up.
- The coach's philosophy was to harden up new recruits through relentless physical challenges.
- His flippant 'harden up' response was criticised for being insensitive to her genuine anxiety.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of clay hardening up in a kiln → a person's attitude hardening up under pressure.
Conceptual Metaphor
EMOTIONAL/MENTAL TOUGHNESS IS PHYSICAL HARDNESS (Resilience is conceptualized as a material property).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation to стать жестким, which primarily means 'to become harsh/rude'. Consider окрепнуть (physically), закалиться (figuratively), or взять себя в руки (idiomatic for 'get a grip'). The imperative often maps to Не раскисай! (Don't go to pieces!).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'harden up' in formal or sympathetic contexts. *'I'm sorry for your loss; you just need to harden up.' (Inappropriate). Confusing it with 'hardening of the arteries' (medical condition).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the imperative 'Harden up!' LEAST likely to cause offence?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they are very close synonyms, especially in the imperative. 'Toughen up' is more common in American English, while 'harden up' has particular currency in Australian and New Zealand English.
Rarely. It is typically a brusque, no-nonsense directive. Even when well-intentioned, it often minimises the listener's feelings. More supportive alternatives include 'Stay strong', 'You can get through this', or 'Build your resilience'.
Yes. It literally means for a physical substance to become hard or solid, e.g., 'The glue needs to harden up before we can sand it.'
It is a phrasal verb (verb + particle). It can be used intransitively ('He hardened up') or transitively ('The training hardened him up'). The imperative form is derived from its intransitive use.